Of course, once I decided I was ready to write a post, I discovered that my Darling Littlest Dumpling deleted the list - along with all the notes off of my iPhone notepad. Grrr… Memory served, though, and I do have a list of fabulous things to share.
My Favorite Things, 2013ish...
- Best. Sheets. Ever. {ever}... I've been mad over these sheets for the past five years, and I'm not sure how they have not made an appearance on a previous favorite things list. After giving birth to my first child, I was having frequent, painful episodes that were classified (wrongly) as back spasms. As a result, my doctor suggested I get twice weekly massages (which, of course, did nothing to relieve the pain from the gall stones I was actually passing...). While the massages didn't feel too great at the time (I was in way too much pain to enjoy them!), I did notice that the sheets on the massage table were freakishly comfy. My massage therapist told me that they were, appropriately, called Comphy Sheets and could not be purchased in stores but were available at the spa where she worked. I was surprised at their moderate price (good sheets can be quite expensive) and picked up a set for our bed. Since then, I've found a quality online retailer and bought sets for our guest bed and Carter's bed. I cannot recall a single house guest who has not commented on our cozy Comphy sheets, and more then one person has gone on to buy a set after sleeping on ours. Comphy Sheets
- Clean Well Hand Sanitizer... look, I'm just gonna say it: kids. Are. GROSS. They lick things (all sorts of things!) and put there fingers in all sorts of orifices and then straight from those orifices into other orifices. They'll eat a sticky gummy bear straight off the car floorboard or pick up a random fabric doll from a drainage ditch at the park. Couple all this disgustingness with general societal germs and then throw in baby diapering germs, and my world can be a pretty icky place. Unfortunately, the big girls have yet to master the art of a good, thorough hand-washing, and soap and hot water is not always readily available. I've always been turned off by traditional hand-sanitizers because of their heavy alcohol content, so I couldn't wait to give this brand a try when I saw small, spray bottles at Target. I was immediately sold on the light scent and the lack skin drying properties. I now order the foaming pump versions from Amazon and keep them all over the house and in my car. One pump lasts a good four months and is simple for the girls to use, even on the go. Clean Well Hand Sanitizer
- Tan Towels...while visiting with a friend last spring, I glanced down and noticed that my 'tan' was wearing off and looking streaky. I said something along the lines of, 'Don't mind my striped legs,' and she asked if I'd used a lotion or tan towels to achieve my fake glow. I was using Loreal Sublime Glow lotion at the time but was always on the lookout for a better option. She began telling me about the ease of using tan towels (no drying time, easy to apply, no streaking, etc...), and I couldn't wait to give them a try. While searching for the perfect tan-in-a-packet, I tried out several brands ranging from those sold at high-end department stores to drugstore brands. I decided that Loreal Sublime Bronze were the winners for me, and they actually provide a much richer color than brands that are double the cost. I love the natural, sun kissed glow they produce and even prefer their results to those of a professional airbrushed tan. As soon as the temperatures start rising and my sandals and sundresses start calling, I'll once again be making them a part of my 'beauty' routine (you know, along with showering every two to three days and occasionally removing my makeup before falling into bed.) Tan Towels
- Scout Bags...once I was all (fake) tanned up and pool ready last summer, I quickly came to a realization. Pool supplies for a family of five require a large bag, a very large bag. The beach towels alone take up a lot of room not to mention the goggles, sunscreen, dive-sticks, drinks, snacks, pool toys, and changes of clothes. On a quest to find a bag that was both large and stylish as well as water proof, I discovered the Scout bags. They come in lots of styles and sizes and have fun patterns for mixing and matching, and, of course, no Southern pool bag is complete without the addition a family monogram. Scout Bags
- From Mama's Table to Mine…when the hubby changed jobs last fall and was again home during the work week, I quickly re-acclimated myself to cooking family dinners. I thought a new cookbook would be a fun and inspiring way to get back into the kitchen groove. Having always been a fan of Paula Deen, though not so much a fan of all the BUTTER (and other less-than-healthy ingredients) that often go along with her recipes, I decided to give her son, Bobby's, cookbook a try. This book is like a CD that you can listen to from the first track to the last without skipping a single song. I have made many recipes and each one has been a winner. I've noticed that Bobby adds unexpected ingredients that add a pop of flavor rather than fat. Lemon zest is added to chicken noodle soup, fresh rosemary to shepherd's pie, and dijon mustard to cheeseburger casserole. Not His Mama's Meals
- Tupperware Quick Chef Chopper…since the last time I'd cooked dinners on a regular basis I had one child and I now have three children, I also found myself looking for ways to make cooking easier. This meant strategic meal planning, prepping during nap time, and taking advantage of crockpot recipes. My biggest time saver in the kitchen, though, comes thanks to my new favorite gadget. I actually purchased this little helper way back in June of 2012, but I didn't open it prior to our move and completely forgot about it once we got settled in Charlotte. I, literally, just took it out of the box in October! I've used several choppers over the years, and this one is by far the best; it's quick, easy, and really gets the job done. I use it to chop everything from onions to olives to thick, raw carrots. I immediately thought that every kitchen needed a Quick Chef Chopper and ordered two more to give as Christmas gifts. Now, you go buy one from my friend, Corinda! Tupperware Chopper
- Trader Joe's…go ahead. Call me late for the party. In my defense, we did not have a TJ's in Denver, and because of its location and parking situation, our local one here in Charlotte seemed difficult to access. But, access it, I have, and my goodness!, I don't know how I lived without it! On my first trip, I was blown away by the incredible prices, especially on dairy and produce. I love that it's small in size and the choices are limited: do I really need seven different brands of canned black beans from which to choose? I also find it so convenient that fruits like pears, kiwi, and plums are pre-bagged. TJ's is now my 'regular' grocery store, and Wrighty and I typically take our first trip of the week on Monday mornings after the big kids are off to school. I love trying any new, seasonal items but also stick to my go-tos each week: cookie butter (crunchy) for my Murph, cereal bars, pretzel bread, organic dairy products, shelled and ready to eat edamame, frozen gnocchi with gorgonzola, fish sticks, rosemary and raisin crackers, and havarti with dill. I hate that it took me so long to discover the TJ's greatness, but I am certainly making up for lost time. TJ's
- Prinstagram...about a year ago, a young friend (I'm talking teenager, young) convinced me to join Instagram. Already a FaceBook user, I wasn't really interested in adding to my social media repertoire, but I gave in to her peer pressure and quickly discovered that I actually preferred IG to FB (no ads, no silly political and social rants, lots of cool pics...). The 4x4 square photos reminded me of some picture albums from my childhood, and I wanted to find a way to print out some my IG pics. After a google search, I found the coolest website that prints both great quality 4x4 prints but also photo stickers (which I use daily to decorate the girls' lunch boxes) matted/framed pics, photo cards, and more.
4x4 prints on heavy card stock with white borders -displayed in the kitchen above the girls' art work.
Crazy over this frame of images of Wright.$60 total (frame, mat, AND pics!)I've been so happy with my my Printstagram purchases and the customer service has been outstanding. It's about time to place another order... Printstagram - Target Cartwheel...the one thing that I love even more than discovering a new, favorite THING, is discovering a new way to save money on things. I'd seen a little something about Cartwheel on a friend's FaceBook but was automatically skeptical about it. Let me just cut to the chase: if you shop at Target (who doesn't?) and have a smartphone (who doesn't?), you need to download this app. Today. I'm now saving money on almost every item I buy and just love feeling like I have my own special sales. Cartwheel App
Trust me. This is some good sh** stuff.